title: Idiopathic hypocalcemia in foals.
abstract: Five thoroughbred foals (4 fillies and 1 colt), all in good to excellent body condition, ranging in age from 4 days to 5 weeks at the time of onset of signs, were presented to 2 Kentucky equine hospitals from 1992 through 1996. All 5 foals presented with tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, diarrhea or a recent history of diarrhea, and muscle rigidity or stiff gait. Four of the 5 foals presented for recumbency, seizure-like activity with opisthotonos, or pronounced extensor muscle rigidity. All 5 foals were hypocalcemic. All foals either died or had euthanasia performed. None responded to oral calcium supplementation. The cause of the hypocalcemia was unknown. Different idiopathic hypocalcemia syndromes may exist in foals.
authors.affiliation: Hagyard-Davidson-McGee Associates, P.S.C., Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Freestone
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reimer
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rueve
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D005065:Euthanasia; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases; D006736:Horses; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010758:Phosphorus; D002118:Calcium